Returning and Rest: Strength for our Bodies, Minds and Spirits

“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:'In returning and rest you shall be saved;In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.'” Isaiah 30:15

This verse stood out to me because of the words return and rest. They are so simple, yet so deeply profound. In a world that constantly pushes us to strive, perform, and produce, God calls us to something radically different: to return to Him, to rest in Him, and to find strength in quiet confidence.

But what does this mean not only spiritually, but also for our bodies and nervous systems? Let’s explore this together.

The Psychology of Rest and Return

From a psychological perspective, our minds are often in overdrive. Anxiety, stress, and trauma can create patterns of vigilance where we feel like we can never fully let down our guard. We may find ourselves seeking security in people, routines, or achievements instead of in God.

But when Isaiah speaks of returning, he reminds us that true safety isn’t found outside of us - it’s found in turning back to God. In psychology, this mirrors the process of “reorienting.” Just as we ground ourselves in the present moment when we’re anxious, we can also spiritually reorient by returning our focus to God’s presence.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

This kind of return shifts our thoughts from spiraling fear to grounded faith.

The Somatic Side: How Rest Heals the Nervous System

Our nervous system is designed to protect us. Through neuroception (our body’s subconscious scanning for safety or threat), we constantly evaluate our environment. When our system perceives danger - even when none is present - it keeps us on high alert. This is why people with chronic stress or trauma may feel restless, agitated, or easily triggered, even in safe environments.

Isaiah’s invitation to rest is not only spiritual but physiological. Rest activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the “rest and digest” branch of our body’s design. This allows healing, repair, digestion, and deep restoration to take place.

When we practice stillness, breathing exercises, or even somatic grounding techniques (like placing a hand over the heart or feeling the support of the chair beneath us), we are living out this Scripture in a very embodied way. Our bodies were created to need cycles of rest - without them, we break down.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:2–3

God’s design for restoration is holistic: spirit, soul, and body.

The Spiritual Invitation: Quietness and Confidence

Spiritually, quietness and confidence in God are the foundations of strength. Yet quietness feels unnatural in a noisy world, and confidence is difficult when our nervous system is caught in hypervigilance.

This is where faith becomes embodied. Trusting God isn’t just a mental decision; it’s something we allow to permeate our nervous system. As we breathe in His presence, meditate on His Word, and surrender to His care, we begin to embody that quiet confidence.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Jesus invites us into a deep rest that no striving can achieve.

The Cost of Constant Threat Mode

When we ignore God’s invitation to return and rest, our nervous system pays the price. Living in chronic stress or hypervigilance weakens our immune system, wears down our energy, and increases anxiety. Spiritually, it leaves us weary and disconnected from God’s presence.

But God’s kingdom offers an alternative: salvation through returning, strength through quietness, confidence through trust.

Practices for Returning and Resting

Here are some simple ways to embody this verse:

• Psychological: Catch your anxious thoughts and reorient them toward God’s truth (Philippians 4:6–7).

• Somatic: Practice slow, diaphragmatic breathing while meditating on a verse like Psalm 46:10. Let your body experience God’s rest.

• Spiritual: Build rhythms of Sabbath, prayer, and stillness where you intentionally return to God and release your striving. Just rest in Him with no religious rituals or endless requests.

  
  

Final Encouragement

Isaiah’s words are not just poetic - they are deeply practical. God designed us to function best when we are returning to Him and resting in Him. Our minds find peace, our bodies find healing, and our spirits find strength.

“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:14

True strength is not in striving but in surrender. Quietness and confidence in God are not signs of weakness, but of deep resilience and trust.

Be blessed today in the mighty name of Yeshua!

• If trauma and constant life struggles are keeping you captive in a place of no rest and being emotionally dysregulated and burnout, visit https://www.lionsarise.org/take-up-your-space-courses and consider the Take Up Your Space Course to free you from the past and lead you into freedom.